Meaning & use

qualify

verb·Academic

To meet the necessary standard, requirement, or condition to be entitled to something or to take part in something.

See it in a sentence

She trained for months to qualify for the national swimming championship.

You must complete the course to qualify as a certified electrician.

A note on using this word

Qualify can also mean to limit or add conditions to a statement: 'let me qualify that remark.'

Words with a similar meaning

be eligible

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. verb

To make a statement less absolute by adding limits, conditions, or exceptions.

The scientist qualified her claim by noting the study had a very small sample.

Make it your own

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